K-F zeolite nanocrystals synthesized from organic-template-free precursor mixture

• Main Authors: Wong, Siew Fang, Awala, Hussein, Vincente, Aurélie, Retoux, Richard, Ling, Tau Chuan, Mintova, Svetlana, Mukti, Rino R., Ng, Eng Poh
• Format: Article
• Published: Elsevier 2017
• Subjects: Q Science (General); QH Natural history
• Online Access: http://eprints.um.edu.my/22786/; https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micromeso.2017.04.053
• Institution: Universiti Malaya

K-F zeolite nanocrystals (structure code EDI) are synthesized from a template-free Al 2 O 3 –SiO 2 –K 2 O–H 2 O precursor system. The use of a very reactive organic-template-free gel system (4SiO 2 : 1Al 2 O 3 : 16K 2 O: 160H 2 O) enables the crystallization of EDI-type nanosized zeolite to accomplish within 3 h at 100 °C. The K-F zeolite crystals have flattened cuboid shape morphology (ca. 27 nm) and they tend to agglomerate and form secondary spherical particles (ca. 310 nm). The K-F zeolite nanocrystals have high alumina content (Si/Al ratio = 1.10) and high crystalline solid yield (79%) offering a promising route for large-scale production of hydrophilic zeolite nanoparticles.